London Heathrow Terminal 3 might not win awards for aesthetics, but for oneworld travellers, it’s arguably one of the best terminals in the world for a pre-flight lounge crawl.
If you’re flying out of T3 in Business Class, or hold oneworld Sapphire status such as Qantas Gold, you can access multiple excellent lounges before departure.
And if you’re lucky enough to hold oneworld Emerald status (such as Qantas Platinum and higher), the experience becomes even more compelling.
Heathrow T3 oneworld Business Class lounges
1. Qantas London Lounge
For many Australians, Qantas is the natural starting point. Located one level above the main departures floor (near Gate 11), the Qantas London Lounge is spacious and distinctly Antipodean in feel.
The food offering is one of the stronger Business Class spreads in the terminal. Expect a rotating hot selection, along with salads, desserts, and a well-stocked bar. Barista-made coffee is also available, of course.
In the evenings, the kitchen also offers a few made-to-order specials, such as the popular salt-and-pepper squid and a cod-and-fennel pot pie. If you love gin, don’t forget to swing by the downstairs gin bar to sample some of their latest offerings.
2. Cathay Pacific Lounge (Business Class)
A short walk away, the Cathay Pacific Lounge offers a completely different atmosphere. Cathay leans into darker tones, warm lighting and a more intimate feel. It’s no accident that the lounge feels like an upmarket living room.
The highlight here is the Noodle Bar. Freshly prepared dishes, such as wonton noodles, dan dan mien, and dim sum, are made to order. The food quality is consistently high and comfortably outperforms most European airline lounges.
There’s also a well-curated drinks list, including Champagne and Cathay’s signature Cathay Delight mocktail – a true favourite of mine. If you’re looking for a slurp-worthy sit-down meal before your flight, this is arguably the strongest Business Class option in T3.
3. British Airways Club Lounge
Although British Airways primarily operates from Terminal 5, some flights also depart from Terminal 3. The Business Class Club Lounge welcomes Business Class passengers, as well as eligible passengers and members of partner airlines.
If the Terminal 5 Club Lounge is anything to go by, expect a decent buffet and self-serve bar. You won’t go hungry, but in our experience, there’s not much of an ‘X Factor’ here.
4. American Airlines Admirals Club
Another option is the American Airlines Admirals Club, which welcomes the same passengers as the other Business Class lounges in this section.
It’s not one our team has visited recently, but based on other reports, it appears similar to the British Airways Club Lounge in terms of fit-out and dining.
How to access these Business Class lounges: You need to be departing on a oneworld carrier from T3 in Business Class, or hold oneworld Sapphire (e.g. Qantas Gold and higher) status for access from any cabin class.
Travellers who arrive into T3 in Business Class on a oneworld flight of five hours or more, and who have an onward oneworld flight of under five hours (in any cabin) can also access these lounges due to oneworld rules on connecting flights
Heathrow T3 oneworld First Class lounges
1. Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
If you hold oneworld Emerald status (such as Qantas Platinum), the lounge crawl becomes even more rewarding. This is the lounge to prioritise.
Cathay Pacific’s First Class section at Heathrow T3 is one of the standout alliance lounges outside Hong Kong. It offers an à la carte dining menu, an elevated Champagne selection and a noticeably quieter, more exclusive environment.
The dining is a step above the Business Class Noodle Bar, with table service and thoughtfully plated dishes. Seating is more spacious and refined, making it an excellent final stop before a long overnight flight.
2. American Airlines International First Class Lounge
It’s fair to say that the American Airlines International First Class Lounge doesn’t strike the same luxurious chord as Cathay Pacific’s. But there are some other reasons you might want to swing past.
For one, it tends to be very quiet. The restaurant also offers a selection of à la carte dishes from 12pm to 6pm daily, which could range from sliders to a wholesome ‘salmon supreme’ dish.
3. British Airways First Class Lounge
Next to the British Airways Club Lounge is a separate space for First Class and oneworld Emerald flyers. The better selection of drinks will be a draw card for some, but overall, we see this space more as a ‘better than Business Class’ offering rather than a true First Class lounge.
How to access these First Class lounges: You need to be departing on a oneworld carrier from T3 in First Class, or hold oneworld Emerald (e.g. Qantas Platinum or higher) status for access from any cabin class.
Travellers who arrive into T3 in First Class on a oneworld flight of five hours or more, and who have an onward oneworld flight of under five hours (in any cabin) can also access these lounges due to oneworld rules on connecting flights.
Other Heathrow T3 non-oneworld lounges to consider
As this is a oneworld-centric guide, we won’t go into too much detail about your non-oneworld options. But there are a few lounges to highlight quickly, as you might have access somehow.
Emirates Lounge
If you’ve been to one Emirates lounge outside of Dubai, you’ve practically been to them all. The Emirates London lounge is situated near Gate 7 and, like in many cities, also offers direct lounge-to-gate boarding.
Our team hasn’t visited this one in person yet, but expect a high-quality selection of pre-plated cold dishes and a rotating buffet that often includes whole cuts of salmon, beef, and more. Veuve Clicquot is often the Champagne of choice, and there’s a solid selection of spirits, beers and wines at the self-serve bar.
How to access: If you’re flying Qantas back to Perth or Singapore/Sydney, eligible passengers can also access the Emirates lounge due to the partnership between the two airlines. Access is open to Qantas Business Class passengers and those with Gold status or higher.
Similar rules apply if you’re flying Emirates, for both elite Skywards and Qantas Frequent Flyer members. Emirates Economy passengers also have the option to purchase access.earo
Amex Centurion Lounge
Even if you’re not flying in a premium cabin, eligible American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders have access to the Amex Centurion Lounge in T3.
This lounge offers one of the best buffets I’ve seen, set in a contemporary space. While I’ve heard this space can get quite busy during the day, it was practically empty at night.
How to access: For Australian Card Members, you need an American Express Platinum, Platinum Business or Centurion Card to enter this lounge. Single-use passes issued in Australia are only valid in Sydney and Melbourne, so they can’t be used here.
Other pay-per-entry options
If you’re travelling in Economy without status, Terminal 3 also has various independent lounges, accessible via Priority Pass or paid entry (subject to availability). These include No. 1 Lounges.
While these lounges don’t quite match the airline-operated spaces in terms of dining or design, they offer a quieter alternative to the main terminal and can still provide decent value on a long travel day.
How to access: Most of these lounges can be access through various means, including paying for entry. If you have individual Priority Pass lounge visits, including those issued from Australian credit cards, they can be used at participating lounges here.american
Summing up
With Qantas and Cathay Pacific alone, you can enjoy two distinctly different but high-quality Business Class lounge experiences before departing London.
Add Emirates for Qantas flights and the Cathay First Class Lounge for Emerald members, along with offerings from British Airways and American Airlines if you want a change of scenery.
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Main photography by Brandon Loo, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense and entered lounges with his own earned status or credit card benefits. Additional photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense and entered lounges with his own earned status or credit card benefits.
